all 271 comments

[–]burlapchafesmeso 162 points163 points  (27 children)

Did Hampson give you any input regarding the change to PTO usage (Mondays, Fridays and any day before or after holidays will be at a 2x rate of PTO usage) or any reasoning for why they are not going to provide laptops to IAs?

[–]Verlerbur 31 points32 points  (2 children)

Is the PTO thing for real? Because that’s insane! I’d like to share this but can’t find corroborating sources - would you mind sharing a link that calls this out?

[–]1appleadayrunner 20 points21 points  (1 child)

It’s here on page 5.

[–]Verlerbur 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

[–]ryanheartswingovers 63 points64 points  (1 child)

Wow that almost sounds illegal

[–]ImprovisedLeaflet 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Yeah that’s totally fucked

[–]Noodle-Works [score hidden]  (0 children)

LOL, that's insane. Would make me not want to be a teacher.

[–]eplurbs[S] 16 points17 points  (20 children)

No, I didn't ask about the PTO or the laptops. We spent the whole time talking about the inclusion classrooms, mainstreaming the SPED and SEL kids, teacher resources for the transition to inclusion, etc.

I was trying to get a sense of what she thinks the role of the board is right now during the strike. I was pressing her to see if she had any tactical actions for the short-term that the district will roll out to help parents and teachers. They're all listed in the post, but I'm hoping there are more she didn't cover. Also, she was pretty clear about how she can't do her job as a board director and also act as "customer service", and the fact that we don't have a good customer service for SPS is a problem they're aiming to fix.

[–]Stinkycheese8001 77 points78 points  (1 child)

But isn’t a huge sticking point for the Union that the inclusion model is so undefined? They don’t have an issue with the model in general, but there was a very real worry about the undefined staffing levels etc.

[–]Rough_Squirrel_423 36 points37 points  (2 children)

No body is negotiating for “customer service”. This is just a distraction trying to appeal to parents.

[–]veggiewitch_ [score hidden]  (0 children)

Right? Like uh, as an elected official it actually IS your job to talk to constituents and have the staff (political staff, not underpaid and disrespected CS reps!) to make sure that’s possible. To take complaints and explain policies.

Last I checked. That’s how democracy works. But what do I know, I’m just a teacher. sigh

Ugh this whole idea of blaming it on not having people to staff phones to get yelled at on behalf of your shitty decisions. Fuck her dogwhistles. I’m not falling for any of it. The more I think about it the angrier I’m getting. “Customer service” are you KIDDING me stop trying to pretend your job, Chandra, isn’t to serve constituents. Which are, in another light, YOUR customers.

[–]eplurbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right, it's not part of the negotiations.

I can attest, though, that parents in the district have a really difficult time navigating things, finding forms, finding contacts, timelines, deadlines, etc. It took me a few tries over 3 days just to figure out how to register the kids at a choice school, and when I had to do it.

It's even harder for parents that have to deal with IEPs and SPED processing. And when you consider SEL and parents that don't speak English, navigating the district processes is a nightmare.

Maybe it's not part of negotiation for teachers, but for parents like me having a simpler process and better documentation is a very nice-to-have improvement, and I'm sure it would benefit many families that aren't being reached or served at all by the district. It would certainly help the district with their image in the community, and with some of their trust issues.

[–]Stinkycheese8001 46 points47 points  (8 children)

Did you ask about why the board had refused to negotiate for so long? Or why they cancelled the negotiations at the last minute this past weekend?

[–]OrleanianFremont 2 points3 points  (5 children)

What impression, if any, did you get of the relationship between the Board and the Superintendent during the strike?

[–]eplurbs[S] -1 points0 points  (4 children)

It was interesting to hear a board member talk about the superintendent. The best way I can describe it is that the board thinks of the superintendent as a CEO - the person that is hired to execute on their decisions and guidance. The board sees their job as totally distinct, but having a partnership with the superintendent.

One thing Hampson said that stuck out was when she talked about revamping the incoming communications pipeline (i.e. "customer service") at the district and the audit they've started - she said it's the superintendent's responsibility to get the auditors all the information and data, and to rally the staff. Made me think that they really don't have any power to actually direct SPS staff, but only to set things like curriculum and goals, and essentially hand that off to get planned out and worked on.

She didn't get into details about their relationship specific to the strike. Though, she did seem to have a lot of optimism that the new superintendent would do a much better job, build more trust, and bring a different skillset to the role than anyone before. Right now, though, I think it's a game between two sets of negotiation teams, not directly between union members and SPS staff.

[–]Altruistic_Archer806 11 points12 points  (2 children)

The union negotiation team is made up of regular current educators/union members. The sps team is made up of current sps administrators.

[–]OrleanianFremont 52 points53 points  (2 children)

I've read the word Inclusion about a dozen times here, and no where is it explained what that is.

If it means putting all aspects Special Needs students into the great mixing bowl of a classroom, I can only say that it sounds like one of the key things that, by and large, have been detrimental to the classroom experience for everyone in the past couple of years.

Sounds like she's blowing smoke up your ass while working contrary to SEA concerns.

[–]eplurbs[S] -4 points-3 points  (1 child)

Maybe this can help answer what inclusion means:

https://www.unicef.org/education/inclusive-education

[–]miss_butterbean [score hidden]  (0 children)

No, we know what inclusion IS.

We don't know SPS's actual PLAN for making that happen. That's a HUGE part of what's missing from SPS's inclusion model.

Things like para supports, hours and times. Support for sped students to access the gen Ed curriculum and places for them to sit and a space on the gen Ed roster. Then, the specifics for EACH student; Sally wears glasses, Kelly needs bathrooming, johnny gets triggered, etc. Teachers [could be] are happy to teach inclusion classrooms, we just need to have a plan and support.

With no caps and no plan, what's to stop SPS from dropping kids in gen Ed without those things? Your article says only SOME classes are inclusion classes; how will that work? Will they have 10 students and other classes none? Are these kids in ADDITION to the typical class load? Are the teachers responsible for content or socialization? How do they keep data? What if there is an emergency? Putting a sped student in an advanced math class without the skills and supports needed is bad for EVERYONE. I've seen classes where one inclusion student tornadoed every object in the room the room each day, and the gen Ed teacher had no recourse except to clean it up after it was over and cry because it's happening AGAIN. Then the student comes back with a lolly, and repeat ad nauseum.

SPS is responsible for these things, and they're NOT doing them. They're not making their plans and policies available for teachers. That lady totally fed you a bunch of canned crap. Notice how she talked about how the teachers and union are only there for themselves? The BOARD is thinking about the students! Only the BOARD has their best interests in mind! Poppycock. That woman makes me mad.

[–]SuchCardiologist9998 71 points72 points  (1 child)

I suggest she spend some time in the SEL classes in the district. She’ll probably claim PTSD. Most folks got no idea how intense the most impacted kids in SEL are from day to Day. it will be a shit show when that population is introduced into general education. Some kids will need intense support. Other kids will yell fight and scream all damn day long while the other 30 kids wait it out. theres Such a huge range of behavior across every kid in the district. this whole fuckin thing is about increasing the number of students assigned to one teacher amd decreasing the classified staff.

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 46 points47 points  (0 children)

I had one SEL student who had a severe startle reaction to loud noises or sudden movements due to a horrendous life of abuse from every single damn adult who should have cared for him.

His SEL classroom was his one safe haven in school. Putting that boy into gen ed for all classes would be educational malpractice.

[–]Altruistic_Archer806 31 points32 points  (0 children)

So upsetting to read, but I am actually glad the quiet part is being said out loud (and I do not blame the OP for reporting what Director Hampson said). If the School Board really represents the community and what is best for students and families, then they need to listen to those students and families who are overwhelmingly showing support for educators and not for the District/Board. I think students and parents have much more trust and faith in the educators who care for and teach students every day compared to downtown administrators and others who dictate from above.

[–]bluefelix95 116 points117 points  (5 children)

Right now the board has hired a consultancy to perform a full communications audit of the district to try and figure out where and how they can improve communications internal and external

I'd laugh but it's not actually funny (nor is it surprising) to hear that the board is spending money on PR consultants. ffs. I would bet calling one constituent a day was a consultant's recommendation. Actually, shouldn't these recommendations be public? I wonder where can we see them?

[–]SaffronHoneysuckle 79 points80 points  (1 child)

This whole post seems like district PR

[–]DerrickMcChicken 27 points28 points  (0 children)

literally seems like a bs corporate response lol

[–]The_Kraken_ 180 points181 points  (10 children)

Everyone, across the board, including teachers, staff, admins all believe that the goals and results of a properly-executed inclusivity program at the district level is not only achievable, but is the right path to follow.

... the SEA teachers union created a task force to come up with a plan on how to rollout and execute in the schools, and to determine which resource would be needed. The board is 100% behind the task force's plan toward inclusion, and also getting the staff the resources they need to implement it.

Great. So give the teachers what they want.

To support the plan the School Board determined that no changes to staffing ratios will happen in the 2022/23 school year, and instead the year should be used for onboarding teachers and admins, support training, and build out curricular resources for inclusion.

Does that look like being "100% behind the task force's plan towards inclusion?"

For this first year the School Board is asking for a 1-year contract. The plan will take 5-10 years to unwind and rebuild for full implementation, and it's clear that things will be more expensive at first before efficiencies materialize to decrease cost over a few years, and to achieve all the expected student results.

This is an "anchor low" tactic. Once the administration shows that the teachers can "live with" the lower staffing levels, they will use it as justification to keep staffing levels low. The teachers are clearly seeing through this tactic and are nipping it in the bud. Good for them.

The district will add additional staff, and provide training opportunities for teachers, admins, and staff, on how to handle the transition to the inclusivity model ... The district is also buying curriculum for the first time.

So, they're hiring more administration, and buying new curriculum -- try saving some of that money to hire more teachers and pay them better. Cycling curriculum every 2 years is incredibly taxing and only serves to justify further "training" and administration (i.e. wasteful overhead). Teachers get more "classroom time" when they're familiar with their curriculum and have time to tweak it to their specific teaching styles.

The administration / school board wants to be seen "doing something." They want to create a task force, commission a study, gather metrics, etc. In reality, they just need to hire more teachers.

Individual plans do not scale to a system as large as SPS, and having uniformity makes for easier teacher onboarding and long-term success.

Turns out, teaching kids doesn't scale. Kids (and especially Special Ed kids) need individual attention and support to thrive; the answer is to hire enough people (and pay them enough) to provide that attention, not turn our schools into "hyperscale" kid factories.

[–]veggiewitch_ 119 points120 points  (3 children)

Oooof when I got to the “buying curriculum part” I shut down in rage.

Teachers go to school to learn to write lessons specific to their classroom and students. they don’t need someone to give them a “one size fits all” with different tracks that they’ll STILL have to spend as much if not more time customizing for students, AND it doesn’t cover what they need it to (basically ever). They need appropriate time to lesson plan for the students they have, and that money could have been spent to do that rather than waste time on useless trainers and nonsense curriculum (I don’t know any teachers who appreciate these things, it’s for admin to make themselves look good, like you said.)

Everything in this post is so condescending.

[–]Lilylumos 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I taught self contained students in SPS until this year and have received 0 curriculum.

Inclusion is NOT for cost cutting. Inclusion is for EQUITY.

[–]jaundicedeye 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I'm skeptical, but appreciate the effort. I dont think burying one constituent under a pile of talking points is helping the school board credibility.

I trust the teachers.

[–]thefreakyorange 124 points125 points  (7 children)

Am I understanding this right?

The school board thinks pushing special needs kids into a regular classroom without any additional pay for teachers or additional personnel to help with special needs is for the benefit of all students?

I can't be understanding that right.

I was already bored out of my mind waiting for students to catch up and understand things in my "Gifted & Talented" classroom as a kid. I can't imagine having to wait for teachers to wrangle kids who have known developmental or learning disabilities. That definitely would not have been "the best" for me.

[–]irishninja62 58 points59 points  (6 children)

Growing up, my school district put special ed kids in regular classes, and it was a huge mess. It's not the responsibility of students to educate their disabled peers, nor can they effectively learn while doing so.

[–]thefreakyorange 21 points22 points  (1 child)

An article I was reading says it's more for the socialization aspect. In other words, they want special ed kids to feel a sense of belonging in the school with other kids their age. The particular article was talking about parents watching their son with Downs Syndrome being alone at the center of a dance floor at a middle school dance with no one greeting him or dancing with him; no one knew him.

I feel for the parents and the kids in those situations, but I agree that it would end up coming at the cost of the majority of kids who move quicker in the classroom, which is, to me, unacceptable.

[–]ScottSierra 12 points13 points  (0 children)

they want special ed kids to feel a sense of belonging in the school with other kids their age. The particular article was talking about parents watching their son with Downs Syndrome being alone at the center of a dance floor at a middle school dance with no one greeting him or dancing with him; no one knew him

it would end up coming at the cost of the majority of kids who move quicker in the classroom

It's not just that they learn quicker. Some students in special-ed classrooms may be overstimulated by the noise, making them shut down; some may act out, screaming or throwing things; some constantly make noises, which is distracting. Yes, socialization is an issue, but thefact is, many special-education students need a small class dedicated to reaching them and only them.

[–]NICEST_COMPLIMENTS 14 points15 points  (2 children)

When I was in high school one of my elective classes was being a student assistant to someone with special needs during one of their “regular” classes. I ended up learning a lot both about peer-tutoring, and from the class I was assisting in.

[–]rooftopfilth 18 points19 points  (1 child)

Key word is “elective.” You had the maturity and desire to help others and signed up to do so. This is not something that should be thrust on all kids.

[–]jolasveinarnir 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Also very different to have “being an assistant to a special ed student” as a single class as a highschooler than having people with major developmental or learning disabilities in every single class with you. They couldn’t be more different tbh

[–]Lazy-Bodybuilder-449 46 points47 points  (0 children)

I've been a teacher at SPS for 8 years, and if I've learned one thing about district personnel, they're terrific at SOUNDING like they care about kids. They know all the buzz words, constantly releasing PR ahead of ongoing negotiations to demonize the greedy teachers, and sounding like they want to "help those furthest from educational justice." Meanwhile, class as sizes creep up into the 30s, and substitutes are unavailable because SPS fired a bunch of them during COVID (would only rehire them at the bottom of the pay scale, regardless of experience). My SpEd team's ratio is 18:1 but we finished the year with 28 kids, and the other SpEd room (8:1 ratio) had 10 kids, from low 2nd graders to 5th.

I'm far from the only teacher, across grades and teams, who cried a LOT last year. SPS emotional supports were to recommend deep breathing and going to your happy place. We had to go out of pocket to get N95s. The union looks out for teachers because SPS doesn't give two shits about them, and only cares about students as numbers because that determines their funding. School board propaganda can fuck right off.

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 50 points51 points  (6 children)

Hampson must be getting nervous. She normally never makes herself available to the public. And she's a complete psycho in private FB groups until some parent or teacher gets bold enough to remind her that people can take screenshots of her insane comments.

Plus there's the whole suing the district thing because they reprimanded her for being a bully.

I voted for her before but can't wait to vote against her when she runs again.

[–]eplurbs[S] 8 points9 points  (4 children)

People have mentioned some of this stuff but I'm totally out of the loop. Can you share any links or media about what she did? I didn't realize she's such a controversial character.

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't have screenshots from the group to prove it but basically she was in a private group for SPS parents and staff and acted like a terrible bully to anyone who disagreed with her. And when people called her out she immediately assumed they were white and would use that as a cudgel to attack them.

She left the group after the screenshot thing was pointed out, and also got rid of her professional FB page.

After watching her behavior in that group, the bullying charges against her came as no surprise.

Oh and she also went after a local education blogger (runs Save Seattle Schools) who didn't agree with her on various things. Most unprofessional thing I've seen in a long time coming from a board member.

[–]anonymouse529 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was wondering if anyone was going to mention this.

[–]cdezdrRavenna 83 points84 points  (4 children)

This isn't clear and reads like a word salad from a politician. It looks like the heart of the matter is that SPS wants to reduce teacher help and to call it equality.

It's clear that the 1:1 model of assignment for SEL does not produce the desired (or federally mandated) results

If 1:1 doesn't work, what are they suggesting? To say 1:1 doesn't work is incredible. I think parents and teachers would love 1:1 help for their kids who need it. If 1:1 doesn't help, what hope do we have for anything?

[–]xapata 10 points11 points  (2 children)

My interpretation was that the "1:1 doesn't work" because they don't have the budget to hire more staff, so it results in "long lines".

hope

You can call your various elected legislative representatives and ask for increased taxes to increase school budgets. Or to redirect funding from other projects to schools.

word salad

It's notes from someone who isn't a professional journalist. Probably.

[–]OrleanianFremont 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I assumed that 1:1 doesn't work merely because they can't hire umpteen hundred paraprofessionals to handle the demand.

So it's not that it's not effective. It just doesn't work with the budget.

[–]seatown2nycBallard 329 points330 points  (50 children)

The community needs to understand that the only non-district entity involved is the SEA teachers union - by definition the union is created to advocate for teachers and teacher negotiation, but the district and board are created to support the students and drive student success. This may seem like semantics, but it's a very clear distinction that the SEA union is an external entity that is hired to do a job, much like an attorney is when representing clients. The union will use every tactic to get what they need for their members because that is their primary purpose for which they are hired, even if it isn't best for the students. They will use spin and stalling tactics, and others to get the agreed-upon list of demands. The union is looking at teacher advocacy, not student success.

This is so partisan and disingenuous it really made me uninterested in the rest of what this person had to say. If they had good, defensible arguments they wouldn't need to disparage the union--and by extension the teachers themselves--like this.

[–]DerrickMcChicken 18 points19 points  (0 children)

literally some anti union bullshit. Was hard to get through the rest of this after reading this portion

[–]veggiewitch_ 166 points167 points  (4 children)

Yup that’s some straight up anti-union propaganda. Especially since she also uses the buzzword of progressivism in another of her nonsense statements.

What’s more progressive than respecting unions? We see through you Hampson!

[–]tonytwostep 78 points79 points  (0 children)

Seriously, OP's presentation of Hampson & the board as "the reasonable party" is truly obtuse.

To respond to some of the points lower in this thread:

  • Yes, the union exists to support the interests of the teachers. But - and I know this might surprise you - the teachers also want what they believe is best for the students, alongside what also helps the teachers. This includes things like lower student:teacher ratios and keeping SpEd teachers, and it even includes things like reasonable pay and PTO policies for teachers (because that's the best way to get half-decent teachers to actually stay at the district).
  • The union is not the one employing "spin and stalling tactics", despite what Hampson says. SEA weren't the ones waiting until the eleventh hour to even begin discussions. SEA weren't the ones backing out of meetings at the last second. SEA aren't the ones now hiring a PR firm (which Hampson mentions in this very phone call) to spin things on their behalf.

I don't think OP is necessarily some secret board shill, but they clearly are easily swayed by bureaucratic sweet-talk. I mean, apparently in the span of one phone call, they went from

I stand with the teachers in their picket lines and expect that the district will do everything in its power to meet the needs of the teachers

to

the district and board are created to support the students and drive student success

The union will use every tactic to get what they need for their members because that is their primary purpose for which they are hired, even if it isn't best for the students.

The union is looking at teacher advocacy, not student success.

Hampson and the school board are genuinely invested in the success and future of Seattle schools, students, and the community.

So much for supporting the teachers, I guess.

[–]UnluckyBandit00 64 points65 points  (9 children)

unions advocate for the people in the union. that's how unions work and why they can be successful. when a union stops doing that, it stops being effective.

that shouldn't be some sort of controversy

[–]seatown2nycBallard 56 points57 points  (8 children)

The idea that the interests of teachers and interests of the students are at odds is the objectionable part

[–]UnluckyBandit00 20 points21 points  (1 child)

but they can be at odds. and that's not a bad thing or an objectionable thing.

of course not everything is a zero sum game, but there will always need to be give and take to balance the needs of various groups. that's just a normal part of living in the real world

the example of inclusive education in the post is a good example. It seems like we know its better for student success, but its obviously makes the teachers jobs more difficult

[–]zippityhooha 10 points11 points  (0 children)

but they can be at odds.

Can be, but unlikely. Teachers tend to join the profession because they like teaching. It's an otherwise thankless and poorly compensated job full of:

  • curriculum dictated by outside entities who have little understanding of pedagogy

  • new curriculum that is a repackaged trend from 15 years ago

  • red dot kids who have behavioral problems and consume 75% of the teacher's time

  • parents who insist their red-dot kid would never do that

  • ...

[–]xapata 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If course they are, at times. My interests are different from my own child's, at times.

[–]TrumpetBrigadier 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I mean, it happens all the time with public sector unions. Look at SPD. That union very clearly represents SPD against the public they are hired to serve.

These incentives aren't new, or confusing. Public sector unions always pit the public employee against their employer (us, the voters).

I still support unions, but nuance is important when evaluating the public sector ones.

[–]seatown2nycBallard 12 points13 points  (1 child)

Teachers' job is to educate students, so whatever helps them do their job better benefits students. Cops' job is to control the public, so whatever helps them do their job better doesn't necessarily benefit the public. What you describe is a problem unique to police unions.

[–]Secure_Pattern1048 -5 points-4 points  (1 child)

Of course they can be - just look at what happened to student scores because teachers unions pushed for remote learning for remote learning for two years.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/us/national-test-scores-math-reading-pandemic.html

The union chose to prioritize teacher health over student wellbeing. They did the right thing for their members, but at the expense of student education and equity.

Black students were particularly impacted and this will likely have a negative impact on the rest of their lives:

“In math, Black students lost 13 points, compared with five points among white students, widening the gap between the two groups. Research has documented the profound effect school closures had on low-income students and on Black and Hispanic students, in part because their schools were more likely to continue remote learning for longer periods of time.“

[–]Altruistic_Archer806 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The union was insisting on safe schools because our country was doing a horrendous job public health wise. Safe schools benefitted students and families and educators alike, because it kept the entire community much safer (our covid deaths were a fraction of what they were in places like Florida). Black families were also being more impacted by Covid, and you may recall that it was mostly (not all) white and more privileged parents calling for reopening sooner. Very few Black students/families were demanding in person schooling.

[–]DeaditeMessiah 39 points40 points  (10 children)

I don't think that's dishonest or even untrue. At some point, the teachers have to get what they need, even if it's not best for the students. Reductio ad absurdum, technically we could pay the teachers nothing and recycle the savings into the facilities and benefit students. The teachers would just be slaves. So better for teachers isn't always better for students: we have to be smart enough to realize we can't judge the entire situation by just what's best for kids - as we obviously already do anyway, given the state of education funding.

[–]Charming_Cicada_7757 44 points45 points  (2 children)

I agree with this 100% but the Union is for teachers and what’s best for teachers isn’t always best for students.

However when you look at some of the teachers demands which include

  1. Lower student to teacher ratio
  2. Paraprofessionals have laptops
  3. Have more PTO for teachers

I think all of these things helps students

Including increasing teacher pay

[–]DeaditeMessiah 15 points16 points  (0 children)

And happier, more professional, better paid teachers are also better for students; but ALL of their needs shouldn't be dictated by someone else's concept of what is good for students.

[–]belligerentfish 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The union is not "for" teachers... the union is the teachers!

[–]dis690640450cc 11 points12 points  (0 children)

While I trust what they are saying about the union I also know form my own dealings with the board that they will do exactly the same as far as spinning and bullshitting. The real question for me is are the unions demands reasonable? What would I expect/demand/settle for if I was a teacher. To get me to be a teach you would need to pay me deep into six digits. In my experience kids are a pain in the ass, and most of the parents are an even bigger pain in the ass. It would take a mountain of money to motivate me to do that job. People started messing with my PTO I would be gone in the drop of a hat. Teachers have been under supported for years as with our education system in general. It doesn’t seem to me what they are currently asking for is unreasonable. If the teachers come back in a few years complaining that they can’t afford to pay for the maintenance on their yachts then I will have a problem with them asking for more.

[–]cdsixedBallard 46 points47 points  (0 children)

chandra hampson please call me at home so i can laugh at this shit to your face challenge

[–]nomorerainpls 13 points14 points  (0 children)

This is 100% true although she should have said that unions may instead of will use certain tactics. The union was NOT created to make sure your kids get a good public education and it’s important that people recognize that. It also doesn’t mean you can’t support your teachers, just be aware that their employment and workplace priorities may not always be aligned with parents’.

I’m honestly tired of hearing about the trust gap. Juneau was terrible. She lied to the public and bullied the board into dismantling HCC and spending millions on STEM/TAF not because it was a good idea, but to earn a $50K bonus. It has been a mess and all anyone does is point the finger and blame her. Not fucking productive.

If they want to restore trust, stop blowing smoke up our asses about some new program that they are SURE is going to fix all our problems and instead roll out simple, evidence-based measures that will show quick, incremental improvements. Also they need to stop acting like programs that align with their values and ideologies are objectively good or better than the alternatives and instead focus on evidence-based measures. Finally, stop making promises about these transformational programs that will supposedly show results in 5-10 years when our kids have all graduated because when they don’t, the next group of families’ only recourse will be to blame the last board or superintendent. I heard the same thing from the parents that preceded me and it does not get our children educated.

[–]BumpitySnook 4 points5 points  (5 children)

what in particular do you feel is factually inaccurate?

the union advocates for its members (teachers). the students aren't union members.

[–]GracchiBrosWereRight 24 points25 points  (4 children)

dude the teachers are demanding better student:teacher rations lmao stfu

[–]dnd3edm1 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I mean, it's factually correct in that union reps and union actions are like "lawyers" for teachers aggressively pursuing their interests, but teachers advocating for themselves are also concerned about student success, and union advocacy can engender student success.

Teachers are ultimately the primary point of contact between the majority of students and the school. If administrators and the board aren't willing and able to sit at a table with them and hash out different issues, the administrators most definitely carry the blame for students lacking a place to be educated during the strike.

[–]SaffronHoneysuckle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Admin isn't the issue, at least at my school. They are in a separate union and don't really wield the power here. SPS gets the honor this time

[–]Altruistic_Archer806 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Union reps are primarily current educators who volunteer their time as union reps in addition to everything else they do. The union bargaining team is almost entirely regular working educators who volunteered their summer to bargain for educators and students.

[–]KingOffRoad 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The whole thing reads like word salad but this is what made me totally tune out. Come the fuck on.

[–]ImRightImRight -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

You do realize the messaging from the union is also partisan?

[–]ScottSierra 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It is, yes. However, the unions are stating what they want for the teachers, and these things are all good for both teachers and students.

[–]juancuneo -5 points-4 points  (3 children)

This is true though. Just because you don't like the facts doesn't make them disingenuous. It is very frustrating to see everyone act like Trump supporters when they see facts they don't like. A union is literally a third party that represents workers and does what it can to maximize those interests. Do you think they don't do that?

[–]seatown2nycBallard 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Lol @ the idea that was just "facts."

The union is looking at teacher advocacy, not student success

Is that a fact? Moreover are those goals mutually exclusive?

Contrast with this:

but the district and board are created to support the students and drive student success

So the teachers only care about themselves not the students, whereas the bureaucrats only care about student success. Is that a fact or is that spin?

[–]Samthespunion 22 points23 points  (1 child)

Everyone knows what a union is and how it functions. The issue with this quote is that it demonizes what the union and teachers are asking for even though what they’re asking for isn’t even something that’d soley benefit the teachers, like salary. It’s about classroom sizes and resources for inclusive classrooms, which helps every single person involved.

[–]juancuneo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I personally don't know enough to evaluate whether their demands "help every single person involved" but that's such a high standard it seems very unlikely. As someone who has worked in union negotiations, I can tell you it is hard enough balancing the interests among different groups within the union (e.g., those with lots of seniority and new hires). You comment does not reflect the true nuance of the situation - and frankly - a union only has the bandwidth to focus on its members and your comment also reflects the success of their PR campaign.

[–]DrMathochistPhinney Ridge -2 points-1 points  (2 children)

As if the teachers don't agree to actions like, you know, strikes. The Lincoln faculty I saw marching around Wallingford today didn't exactly seem coerced.

[–]seatown2nycBallard 4 points5 points  (1 child)

They're out of contract so ya they aren't working. If SPS gives them what they're asking for they'd be back to work the next day

[–]DrMathochistPhinney Ridge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, we understand how strikes work. The point is the union isn't exactly imposing this on teachers against their will. As many others have put it in these comments, the union is the teachers.

[–]Lord_Cavendish40k 87 points88 points  (10 children)

This quote from Chandra Hampson shows the type of person she is;

"The community needs to understand that the only non-district entity involved is the SEA teachers union - by definition the union is created to advocate for teachers and teacher negotiation"

A classic union-busting attempt to portray the union as an outsider/3rd-party. The union IS the members. Hampson is outrageous, incompetent, or both.

The OP has been played.

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 46 points47 points  (3 children)

Eh. The OP is using two accounts here to reply to people for some weird reason. I have to think OP is a friend of Chandra's. Or else drunk. Not sure.

[–]EtherealWaltz 42 points43 points  (2 children)

Honestly the entire post reeks of a PR stunt by either the School Board, someone close to the board, or by Hampson. It has extremely weird divisive language that blames unions for only caring about themselves and praises the school board for representing everyone (which it most certainly does not).

The OP also has no thoughts or opinions of their own and only regurgitates Hampson’s ideas which is weird since if you had emailed her about your thoughts, surely you would have included them in the post even if you changed your mind because you talked about them with her, right?

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I imagine it's one of Hampson's pals. She runs with a group of total narcissists who would be just the type to do something like this.

[–]TheoreticalLime 25 points26 points  (0 children)

The biggest giveaway is repeating Hampson over and over again. Nobody writes like that outside of PR and paid political pieces. They are trying to get the name recognition.

Edit: They mention the name at least 15 times lol.

[–]TelephoneTag2123 27 points28 points  (1 child)

The OP is obviously a plant 🌱

This is the most one sided drivel I have ever read. The school board is not customer service???? Oh f*ck you.

[–]Han_Soldlow [score hidden]  (0 children)

yeah it's more like SPS sent OP a list of talking points to type out in one of her reddit accounts. School board propaganda on reddit, I've seen it all.

[–]Altruistic_Archer806 1 point2 points  (0 children)

By definition, elected leaders are supposed to represent their constituents, and yet somehow elected leaders routinely do not. Weird.

And, by definition, downtown administrators are supposed to do what is best for students and families, and yet …

[–]frostychocolatemint -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

A Starbucks worker union is different from a teacher's union or police union. One represents workers against corporate shareholders interests. In the latter the shareholders are students and community of taxpayers. Teachers work for taxpayers in the same way Starbucks workers work for sbux shareholders. Representation is important, and the teachers should have their own interests represented. As a member of the community, your interests should also be represented, as a taxpayer you are the shareholder and owner. Public and private sector unions are diametrically opposed.

[–]ez_dinosaur -3 points-2 points  (1 child)

Isn’t that factually correct though? Isn’t every union created to advocate for their members? Every union wants better working conditions, pay, etc for its members, not for the clients/customers/students served by the union members.

The autoworkers union advocates for autoworkers, not to build the best quality car. The police union advocates for the police officers, not the civilians in their precinct. The teachers union advocates for teachers, not for the students in their classroom.

[–]Altruistic_Archer806 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Educator unions are still unions that represent their members but they are unique in many ways. Educator unions routinely bargain for things that they think will benefit students and families in addition to educators. That is part of the reason why there is so much support for educators here. It would be very different if they were asking for things thay parents/students did not also support.

https://www.nea.org/your-rights-workplace/union-educator-voice/bargaining-common-good

For example, educators were the ones who insisted on including parents in the special ed task force, which is part of the contract.

[–]PopPunkIsntEmo 114 points115 points  (6 children)

Skimming this it one sided and looks like it's an interview transcript but this is truly tl;dr.

[–]eplurbs[S] 24 points25 points  (5 children)

Yup, it's a phone call I turned into an interview from this morning with Hampson, and I just wrote up the narrative from my notes. Many of the lines are verbatim what she said.

[–]GoldenFalconSouth Delridge 76 points77 points  (4 children)

I got the impression that Hampson and the school board are genuinely invested in the success and future of Seattle schools, students, and the community.

That would be almost anyone's perception when given an hour to listen to a person who ran a successful political campaign. Just so you know, not finding a way to get more staff for students is the exact opposite of what you said here. Giving sped and language barriers more staff, is the hang up and absolute trash to hold back my child's education. I'd love to have an hour with any of the board members, it wouldn't be nearly as pleasant a conversation you gave Hampson. I'm hostile, pissed off, and sick of SPS using parents as a pawn against teachers. And YOU just got used to promote this conversation to others. SPS doesn't deserve the time and patience you gave them in this conversation, because they could end all this and make everyone happy. But instead, they are choosing the stupidest subject of the contract to hold up our children's education. Waisting families PTO, or $ being used on childcare.

[–]veggiewitch_ 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Yeah like….they want teachers to agree to have high ratios of SpEd students in Gen Ed classes without the appropriate resources and paras. That’s not implementation of successful inclusion. Teachers ARE looking 5-10 years down the road…..at their likelihood of burnout if the district did it their way. Meaning less qualified and experienced teachers in our schools long term. Which is objectively terrible for students and the community.

[–]RottenPeach6 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Screw seattle school board

[–]captainAwesomePantsBroadview 81 points82 points  (5 children)

I'm sure you mean well, but you've got to admit that being the person who yesterday posted the "we should contact the school district with our thoughts" yesterday and then yourself coincidentally being the one and only person that Director Harris contacted this morning and deciding to write up a lengthy interview that effectively reads like a press release from the SPS is going to feel suspicious at best?

And then your writing goes out of the way to remind us that the SPS and the board and the Director are working hard doing a thankless job for the kids, but the teacher's union is a bunch of outsiders only out for themselves? "SEA union is an external entity," "The union will use every tactic to get what they need for their members," I mean, c'mon, really? And then you don't even make it clear whether you're speaking or whether you're quoting the Director. Which bits of that are you and which bits are her?

Anyway, like I said, I'm not saying you're a secret plant from SJS or anything. After all, yesterday you were talking about bringing snacks to the picketers, and that's not something I'd expect a secret SJS account to be doing, but this just kind of reads like a press release that frames SJS as powerless to do anything in the face of evil teacher lawyers demanding $500 million.

[–]deb9266North College Park 28 points29 points  (0 children)

A former KGB leader once said the best assets never even know that they are assets.

[–]nomorerainpls 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not suspicious. There are a lot of very engaged parents at SPS and it shouldn’t surprise you that many are working really hard to be supportive and resolve the issue knowing that their child’s free public education experience is the only one they will get and one of the most important contributing factors to their children’s quality of life as adults.

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 27 points28 points  (2 children)

Pretty odd that some questions are being answered by OP and some are being answered by a different account as if it's OP (Sad_Faithlessness_50).

Some shenanigans going on here.

[–]DirkRockwell 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Just sloppy pr bullshit

[–]veggiewitch_ 101 points102 points  (5 children)

Wow that’s a load of utter BS.

Keep on striking, SEA. You got this.

[–]mosquito-genocide 151 points152 points  (41 children)

Ok, Chandra Hampson. You know you can just post to Reddit yourself instead of inventing an elaborate story lol

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 10 points11 points  (0 children)

If this were a new account I would be 100% sure it was a Chandra sock puppet. That's right up her alley.

[–]Emeryb999 60 points61 points  (15 children)

You can literally watch this person play bass live on reddit in their profile, I don't think it's Chandra Hampson...

[–]mosquito-genocide 53 points54 points  (14 children)

Fair enough ... I wish they had had the common sense to dump these notes in the trash instead of condescendingly posting them as if they are information. Like this shit about what a teacher's union is

"This may seem like semantics, but it's a very clear distinction that the SEA union is an external entity that is hired to do a job, much like an attorney is when representing clients. The union will use every tactic to get what they need for their members because that is their primary purpose for which they are hired, even if it isn't best for the students. They will use spin and stalling tactics, and others to get the agreed-upon list of demands. The union is looking at teacher advocacy, not student success. The difference can seem subtle at first glance."

This is anti-union bullshit

[–]ScottSierra 5 points6 points  (0 children)

even if it isn't best for the students

Though, as I think we know, the things this union is demanding are good for teachers, but also good for teaching, and thus will be good for students-- which IS what the teachers want: to be able to do their jobs better.

[–]sunshinedaymare 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The union IS the employees, not an “external entity”.

[–]Emeryb999 17 points18 points  (8 children)

I mean it is the definition of a union to advocate for their employees. But also I would expect someone in a contrary position to the union to paint them negatively.

The goal is for each representative entity to meet and arrive at the best final result possible given each group's demands. And that hopefully, by getting the best conditions for teachers, we will simultaneously be getting the best outcomes for students since there is probably a direct line from teacher well-being to student success.

[–]nomorerainpls -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

just because you don’t like the message doesn’t mean it isn’t true

[–]cluberti 20 points21 points  (12 children)

Yeah, this is the most ridiculous attempt to hide personal position publications I think I've ever seen.

[–]eplurbs[S] 17 points18 points  (11 children)

My writing style might not be spot on, but I wouldn't call it ridiculous, lol. Anyway, you can do with it what you want. I wrote it all after a phone call with Hampson this morning because I'm stuck at home with the kids yet another day. It probably sounds one-sided because I only talked to one side and didn't editorialize.

[–]4t0micpunk 3 points4 points  (10 children)

Thanks for taking the time to give us the info, people can take from it what they want….definitely no reason to shit on you.

[–]eplurbs[S] 1 point2 points  (9 children)

Thanks, I didn't know what the internet would say in response, but it's clear most people (on this forum) aren't too happy that I bothered to talk to someone on the board, or share any of it.

Anyway, won't make that mistake again tomorrow - when I'm home with the kids again.

[–]eplurbs[S] 17 points18 points  (9 children)

There's no conspiracy here, I'm quite literally a parent of 2 kids in Seattle schools, and not at all related to Hampson. They were supposed to start on the 7th like everyone else. I'm driving by the school each day to support the teachers.

But, like I've told my conspiracy-toting parents when they make claims like yours - I can't worry about things I can't control. I'm hoping the info I wrote up helps people see a side of the story they hadn't heard yet, and to share what I thought was an important conversation.

[–]mosquito-genocide 23 points24 points  (8 children)

Yeah I have no idea who you are or what your deal is but the way you wrote this thing reads like a propaganda pamphlet for "Chandra Hampson". If you're really a disinterested 3rd party then you just got used for dumping propaganda onto social media. Like:

"The community needs to understand that the only non-district entity involved is the SEA teachers union - by definition the union is created to advocate for teachers and teacher negotiation, but the district and board are created to support the students and drive student success. This may seem like semantics, but it's a very clear distinction that the SEA union is an external entity that is hired to do a job"

Keep walking with that bullshit... "The community needs to understand". Come on! Do you think people don't know what a fucking union is?

[–]eplurbs[S] 10 points11 points  (4 children)

Like I said, these are notes from my discussion with Hampson. "The community needs to understand..." are quite literally her words verbatim. I'm not interested in your labels, but I'd be interested in your thoughts if they have any substance and are even tangentially related to the scope of what's discussed.

[–]mosquito-genocide 38 points39 points  (3 children)

My thoughts on the subject are that you got used by Chandra Hampson

[–]elements83 5 points6 points  (2 children)

lol

"i dont know you but i'm going to assume the worst of you"

[–]AlexandrianVagabond 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I assume the worst of people who are using two different accounts to respond like OP is doing.

[–]JustALivingThing 20 points21 points  (0 children)

"I don't know you know, but you post is full of meaningless buzzwords and anti-union connotations, so I'm not sure I believe you when you say that you're a neutral 3rd party."

FTFY

[–]Rough_Squirrel_423 7 points8 points  (0 children)

preplanned fake BS- trying to get their taking points out to Reddit. Nice try SPS.

[–]zackurtis 44 points45 points  (3 children)

Was this her words' "the SEA union is an external entity that is hired to do a job"? Super unfair, anti union speak. The teachers ARE the union, they all vote on actions.

[–]eplurbs[S] 5 points6 points  (2 children)

Yeah, those were her exact words.

The SEA union (and WEA for that matter) is an organization that employs professionals that get paid. Aside from admin staffing, they have hired executives, data specialists, organizers, etc. just like most unions. The teachers are dues-paying union members. Some of the teachers are also reps for their schools levels.

In grad school I was fortunate enough to be a member of a student union that was entirely run by students. That was a case where the students ARE the union. But the end result is pretty much the same - collective bargaining.

[–]hottakeponzi 9 points10 points  (1 child)

If teachers (or any other group of workers) organize with an existing union, that doesn't somehow make their local an "external entity." The local IS the teachers.

The grad school union you were in was either a local of a bigger union or an independent union. If it was a great independent union and the grad students at the university a town over began organizing to join it as a new local with a new contract, would they suddenly be part of an "external entity?"

The concept is pure management propaganda with not much substance to it.

[–]eplurbs[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think I agree with you in the general, but it feels like a semantic debate. The point Hampson was making may very well be management propaganda.

The point I was making is that a union is more than just a bunch of members, and there are truly external entities involved such as a hired negotiation team and a professional executive.

The actions a union takes are certainly based on member votes, but without having read the exact bylaws of SEA, I'm not sure that every action a negotiation team takes has to be voted on. I'm actually curious if the terms for the SEA negotiation were written out by their negotiation team, the executive, or by individual teacher members.

If there's a teacher that voted on the strike and is familiar with the terms set forth for the negotiation that has read this far into the thread, I'd love to know what the process looks like, and what kinds of input teachers have into the process at this point. Who actually controls the conditions of the negotiation team?

[–]Throwaway55667711 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Complete BS from the school board PR apparatus…

[–]DerrickMcChicken 10 points11 points  (2 children)

so, does anyone else reading this feel like OP got a corporate BS answer and this is just a bunch of nothing?

[–]eplurbs[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

A lot of people, if the comments are any indication.

[–]AndrogynousHobo -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Idk, to me it seems like the board director came from a place of real curiosity. That’s about as good as you can get from a human being who’s trying to do their best in a broken system.

[–]loqqui 47 points48 points  (4 children)

The union will use every tactic to get what they need for their members because that is their primary purpose for which they are hired, even if it isn't best for the students. They will use spin and stalling tactics, and others to get the agreed-upon list of demands. The union is looking at teacher advocacy, not student success.

Did ya hear that? Evil teachers unions are anti-students!!!!!!!!!

In honesty, I'm happy you could hop on a call with your school board representative. That's something many of us would never get a chance to do. Maybe in the future be more clear about what her words are and what your words are, it's sometimes hard to tell what your opinion is vs what she is actually saying verbatim/paraphrased.

[–]eplurbs[S] -1 points0 points  (3 children)

Those were her words, e.g. "spin and stalling tactics" verbatim. Like I said, I didn't editorialize. Take it however you want.

I don't agree that "teacher advocacy, not student success" translates over to "teachers unions are anti-students".

[–]Stinkycheese8001 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Didn’t the district choose to wait until extremely late in the summer to even start negotiations though? And they were the ones who have refused to meet, not the teachers Union. That sure sounds like “spinning and stalling”.

[–]loqqui 20 points21 points  (0 children)

  1. its called a hyperbole and sarcasm
  2. The thing is, it's called a "teachers union", which fights for benefits for teachers. It's in the name. We know that. It's common sense that the "teachers union" that is formed, of teachers, would be doing teacher advocacy. It's not a student union... The structuring of the comment seems set up to confer anti-union sentiment when contextualized with who the speaker and other comments and tone in the narration (e.g. "The community needs to understand"). While "teacher advocacy, not student success" if read on surface level doesn't mean "anti-students", that's the same way I could say "Teachers unions do teacher advocacy, not environment protection." It's technically true. But in this context, by specifically highlighting how teacher's unions are not about "student success", the intent seems to lean more towards trying to stir up anti-union sentiment by telling us the unions do nothing for students.

[–]TUoT 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Put that shit in quote marks then

[–]QueenOfPurple 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I support the teachers and their union.

[–]koushd 48 points49 points  (11 children)

This is illustrative as to how access journalism works. You were fed anti union PR by SPS, which you gleefully posted near verbatim because someone gave you an hour of their time.

[–]eplurbs[S] -3 points-2 points  (10 children)

How could I have editorialized to provide more journalistic objectivity or integrity?

[–]euclidiancandlenut 27 points28 points  (2 children)

Journalism is not publishing someone’s press release verbatim.

[–]eplurbs[S] -5 points-4 points  (1 child)

If ever I need to do actual journalism I'll remember this nugget of wisdom. For now I'm just a guy posting on Reddit to a hostile audience.

[–]euclidiancandlenut 25 points26 points  (0 children)

You acted as a mouthpiece for a somewhat controversial public official (in the world of people who follow the school board) who is part of a very unpopular organization at the moment. It’s not surprising you’re getting a lot of pushback.

[–]teamlessinseattle 28 points29 points  (3 children)

You could have had the good sense to go “this sounds like self-serving bullshit from someone with a biased perspective” and just not posted it?

[–]tonytwostep 14 points15 points  (2 children)

How could I have editorialized to provide more journalistic objectivity or integrity?

Fact check.

For example, when Hampson tells you something like:

The union will use every tactic to get what they need for their members because that is their primary purpose for which they are hired, even if it isn't best for the students. They will use spin and stalling tactics, and others to get the agreed-upon list of demands. The union is looking at teacher advocacy, not student success.

Rather than just amplify those false words verbatim, you could add additional context to your post. Something like "(NB: According to SEA, the board is the one utilizing stalling tactics - see <link> for details)". Or even better, push back in the moment: "Didn't you say earlier that the union was the one utilizing spin tactics? But now you're talking about using district money to hire a PR firm? How do you reconcile those two statements?"

Your intentions are appreciated, but posting this word-for-word PR spin from the board does more harm than good IMO.

[–]belligerentfish 12 points13 points  (0 children)

the SEA union is an external entity that is hired to do a job,

This is flat out wrong. The union is *the teachers.* They are not "external" in any sense. The union is literally the workers. The teachers want what is best for their student, and so does the union!

[–]Smashing71 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Now to a primary sticking point of the ongoing strike and negotiations: data and real-world experiences in other districts and states show that an inclusion model will get us out of being stuck with the problems the schools face when dumping money and resources into SEL/multilingual and special ed, but not getting results or pushing the needle. Last year, the existing model used in Seattle schools poured $120M in addition to all the state funding, but the results were abysmal.

Shouldn't it be noted this was coming back from the pandemic and a heavily disrupted year? It feels to me like every single model and every single organizational effort would have abysmal results. And it's not something you can statistically account for - statistical models don't handle black swans very well.

It also seems to me that the discussion was great, but glossed over class size in this. Like if you're including students with weak english skills or learning issues that will increase teacher burden, and "less time spent developing lesson plan" doesn't help if the class size is nearly 50 and the teacher doesn't have the resources to deal with that. Like you cannot magically give more time to interact in a 55 minute class with 50 students in it, no matter how much you 'reduce teacher burden' elsewhere.

[–]OttonymRenton 31 points32 points  (3 children)

"The union is looking at teacher advocacy, not student success."

This is utter bullshit, and a very anti-union message to try to spin, and is EXACTLY what a school board member would say.

The union is MADE OF TEACHERS (including the negotiation team), and is not some weird "3rd party entity" that comes in and tries to rip off the board and then runs off with a sack of money.

Every concern these teacher/union-neogtiators have is utterly devoted to "how can I have my kids succeed without starving to death or going broke?".

Compounding the problem, last year's return to in-person schooling was met with a LOT of grace by teachers for students for how in-person learning was supposed to be. Some of the 504s and IEPs that were written - which are legally binding to the teacher to perform - were utterly impossible to satisfy, or completely nonsensical.

Actual 504: "Student has until the end of the semester to complete projects, homework, and tests"

..they can take until the end of the semester to finish a TEST?

There are some classes where more than 50% of the students have various accommodations, and some of them actually conflict - if a third of your students require an alternative, quiet testing location, where are you going to put them all?

Those accommodations are now being pushed forward as normal, which exposes teachers to unnecessary stress - they can be sued, lose their certification, their jobs, etc - over these utterly insane and inane requests.

Now do these students always lean into the accommodations? Thankfully not. But the teacher is required - at all times - to be ready to, should the need arise. They need proper support to take care of all their kids.

A lot of job cuts over COVID significantly impacted paras and LRC's, compounding the problem. That was a major issue with the Kent strike - KSD was literally leaving $100M in free money from the state specifically for support positions (more paras and LRCs) and programs simply because they wouldn't cough up the $30M in required matching.

[–]backwardog 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Sounds like a bunch of BS excuses to me not to pay teachers.

Mark my words, they will reach a conclusion eventually that includes pay raises even after all this discussion about how the money isn’t there. I’ve seen the same scenario play out in state colleges.

Just pay and support the fucking educators who are the heart and soul of educational institutions and everything else can come second.

[–]dingleburriesz 7 points8 points  (2 children)

Congrats you spoke to a politician

[–]cdsixedBallard 28 points29 points  (1 child)

what was the text of your email?

"chandra you are so smart and beautiful, why is the greedy union doing this to our kids? if you are free, please call me, i am willing to transcribe every dumb anti-union thing you have to say"

[–]eplurbs[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'll add it to the post, but here's my email text:

Dear Director Hampson,

I am a parent of 2 elementary school children in your school board district 3 that were meant to start at {their school name} school this week. We had our first meetings with the teachers and were lucky enough to tour the school before the scheduled first day. Unfortunately SPS is not providing the support the teachers need and they have decided to strike instead of starting a year with flawed policy and under-resourced facilities and staff.

I am urging you as my board representative to not file an injunction against the teachers or to fine them for their time in the picket lines. This would be a devastating blow to our beloved schools, and we would be failing the educators we so desperately need.

I stand with the teachers in their picket lines and expect that the district will do everything in its power to meet the needs of the teachers and give them the special ed support they deserve. Our teachers have been blindsided with the past two years and need our support more than ever. With many of the staff and teachers having left the district we should be praising and rewarding the remaining teachers, and hiring more educators and staff to join them. Instead, it seems that the district is keeping negotiations at an impasse, and failing our children.

Thank you for your help,{my contact info}

[–]schoolr24 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We see through all your shenanigans here. Good try though ;)

[–]judithishereRedmond 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I don't even live in Seattle, but after reading this and doing a quick Google search of her name, I want to move to her district just to vote against her. What an absolute horror show of a person.

[–]euclidiancandlenut 20 points21 points  (4 children)

This is hot garbage. At best you’re doing free PR for SPS and Chandra, but tbh I hope you got paid.

[–]passivelypeloton 17 points18 points  (3 children)

You seriously want to fine teachers for striking? For better pay for paras? Listen, your kids go to Laurelhurst, therefore I don’t expect you to understand or care how what the district is attempting to do will have a deeply negative effect on communities of color in seattle. But try, for the love of God, to understand that it’s teachers, not board members who have never been in a classroom, who care about students.

[–]eplurbs[S] -1 points0 points  (2 children)

I'm not sure what you mean. I wrote to the school board asking them not to fine teachers, and to not file an injunction. Quite the opposite of fining them.

I was able to get my kids into a choice school. We don't actually live in Laurelhurst, much further north, actually, but your point is taken.

Do consider, though, that the current school board is made up of women and POC members that have been PTA members, walked the picket lines with SEA, and have kids in SPS. Even if I don't agree with what they're doing at each step, I'm not going to question their understanding of what school decisions affect the communities of color. They know from first-hand experience.

[–]passivelypeloton 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Oh, I’m sorry for misreading that! That was my mistake.

Schools like Laurelhurst will always be fine, because of where they are located in the city. And as for the makeup of the board members, yes, there are women and people of color on the board. But they are not, and never have been, teachers in schools that serve communities of color. They do not have first hand experience working with ELL or SPED or SEL students in the school setting. You said it yourself, they work for the district. The teachers work for students.

These are communities that will be and have been disproportionately effected by the board.

[–]eplurbs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm totally with you on this! There's a gap between our board, our district, and the lived experiences of Seattle's communities. Every one of their decisions will have a larger impact on our communities of color because those communities historically and today can't do things like fallback to private schools and peace out when problems like covid start.

I do want to push back on one point:

After reading about school board director job description I don't believe that the skill set needed for that role is that same as that of a teacher, so I don't necessarily think we need former teachers to fill the board. If a teacher decides to change career, gets some proper training for the role, then I'd be thrilled to hear from them and see what ideas they can bring.

I agree, though, that we need people who can relate to the community, and to the damage done from bad decision making, and our board members need to answer for any mistakes and be held accountable for any schools or students that aren't served and get left behind. I don't know the current board members personally, but their bios and resumes look quite diverse, and I hope that isn't by accident, and I hope it does bring some of that view towards equity and impact when they make decisions about our schools.

[–]Illustrious_Feed_457 9 points10 points  (0 children)

No way this isn’t astroturf

[–]MurrayInBocaRatonCapitol Hill 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Christ TL;DR

[–]PleaseSandwich 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Haha, what a load of nonsense. I don't suppose you asked her why Dr. Jones was hired without a robust search process (but after spending a lot of money on consultants to do a search) or public input? Also, "can we afford this?" They can afford to pay consultants millions every few years to redo math or science curriculum. I'm sorry you had to sit through an hour of that.

[–]CeceBlooms 11 points12 points  (0 children)

An injunction against the teachers? Fuck off.

[–]Freakboy10 1 point2 points  (0 children)

An hour? People got time on their hands

[–]Straight-Material854 -6 points-5 points  (3 children)

That's the same lady who refused to clear a drug encampment off of city property. Nice of her to take the time but she's not someone we should be electing.

[–]Sad_Faithlessness_50 -2 points-1 points  (2 children)

I haven't seen that, can you share the details?

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[removed]

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    [–]caphill2000 comment score below threshold-7 points-6 points  (1 child)

    I can’t believe you passed up the opportunity to ask why she values criminals over children as long as they aren’t by her home

    [–]Sad_Faithlessness_50 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

    Darn, maybe next time!

    [–]bennihana09 comment score below threshold-15 points-14 points  (0 children)

    This, and you, are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing.

    [–]Ideserveit34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Why am I reading an essay?